10 Common Hair Myths Debunked

Do you really have to wash your hair everyday?

What's really true when it comes to all the lore and old wives' tales about how to care for your hair? We address the top 10 hair myths— from whether or not you should wash your hair everyday to the hazards of plucking grey hair. Turns out some aren't myths at all.

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The Myth: You should wash your hair everyday

The Myth: You should wash your hair everyday

“Washing your hair daily will remove hair’s natural oils and proteins, drying it out,” said stylist and Rahua brand creator Fabian Lliguin. “Then more products will be needed, causing a cycle of excessive product usage. Best to wash twice a week.” (Or when your hair’s dirty!)

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: Stress can turn your hair grey

The Myth: Stress can turn your hair grey

This has always been a commonly held belief without any proof, but we’re getting closer to understanding it. Researchers from New York University School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine published a study in June which provided evidence that stress hormones can contribute to grey hair, via a complicated stem cell mechanism. However, it was a study done in mice and there are likely many other factors that contribute to going grey, like genetics and illness.

The Myth: You should wash your hair everyday

“Washing your hair daily will remove hair’s natural oils and proteins, drying it out,” said stylist and Rahua brand creator Fabian Lliguin. “Then more products will be needed, causing a cycle of excessive product usage. Best to wash twice a week.” (Or when your hair’s dirty!)

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: Stress can turn your hair grey

This has always been a commonly held belief without any proof, but we’re getting closer to understanding it. Researchers from New York University School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine published a study in June which provided evidence that stress hormones can contribute to grey hair, via a complicated stem cell mechanism. However, it was a study done in mice and there are likely many other factors that contribute to going grey, like genetics and illness.

The Bottom Line: Possibly True

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The Myth: If you pluck a grey hair, two more will grow

“Each hair follicle can reproduce [one hair] after being plucked, regardless of the color,” Lliguin said. In fact, plucking is a bad idea. Think about what happens when you over-pluck your eyebrows. “Too much plucking will create a bald spot instead,” Lliguin warned.

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: Wearing ponytails and braids frequently can make your hair fall out

Pretty braids and sleek ponytails are super popular right now. So it's too bad that sporting the styles too frequently can be unhealthy for your hair. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) just released a PSA which stated, “Do not continuously wear braids, cornrows, ponytails, and hair extensions. These styles pull on the hair and can cause tension that leads to breakage. If the tensions continues, permanent hair loss can develop.” Got it?

The Bottom Line: TRUE

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The Myth: Going outside with wet hair when it's cold can make you sick

We’ve all heard this one from a concerned mom or grandmother, right? “Colds and other illnesses are caused by airborne pathogens like viruses and bacteria,” James Choi, MD, said. “Standing outside with wet hair won’t make you sick.” Unless someone sneezes on you while you’re standing out there, that is.

The Bottom Line: FALSE

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The Myth: You can “close your hair cuticles” with a cold water rinse and make hair shinier.

Ever been to a salon where they blast you with cold water at the shampoo bowl? It may feel refreshing, but it’s not doing anything for your hair. “The degree to which cuticles are open or closed is not a function of temperature,” cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller said. Water itself can actually cause follicles to lift a bit (which leads to dull-looking hair) and things like relaxers and perms cause them to lift a lot. Physical and chemical damage can also cause follicles to lift. Conditioners can help with smoothing in this case, but cold water? Nope.

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: You should brush your hair with 100 brush strokes every day

Sorry, budding Rapunzels. The AAD also addressed this conventional hair wisdom in its recent PSA. “Keep brushing to a minimum. Brushing your hair 100 strokes each day can cause split ends,” the AAD wrote.

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: You can't dye your hair when you're pregnant

This is one that often causes a lot of panic, but don’t worry. You needn’t give up your ombré once you get pregnant. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, at the New York Presbyterian Hospital told us it’s safe to dye your hair during pregnancy. “There are some caveats. Older dyes were formaldehyde-based. While it is difficult to find these, they should be avoided,” she said.

“The period of organogenesis (the initial formation of all the baby's organs) is generally completed by about 10 weeks gestation, which is why some people suggest waiting until outside of the first trimester if you want to use dyes or other chemicals. There is very little that gets absorbed into the maternal blood stream,” she clarified. Gyamfi-Bannerman recommends that if you’re doing DIY hair color, you should wear gloves and stay in a well-ventilated location.

The Bottom Line: False

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The Myth: Eating oysters will make your hair grow

Besides having a reputation as an aphrodisiac, oysters also supposedly help your hair grow. While we can’t address the first myth, registered dietician Keri Gans had some insight into the second. She acknowledged that oysters are rich in zinc and protein, two nutrients thought to be necessary for healthy hair. But they’re not enough. “Oysters included in a well balanced diet are probably what’s best for your hair. I would never pinpoint just one single food,” Gans said. In case you’re interested, lentils and walnuts (both high in biotin) and salmon (high in omega-3 fatty acids), are also good foods to include in a healthy hair diet.

The Bottom Line: True, with many caveats.

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The Myth: A beer wash can make your hair stronger

The common wisdom here is that the yeast and protein from malt and hops can help strengthen hair if you use it as a topical rinse. “Overall the alcohol will dry hair more than the proteins repairing it. Be cautious,” warned stylist Lliguin. And who wants her hair smelling like beer?